Benefits For Permanent Employees And Employees Whose Appointments Are For More Than One Year
This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the benefits to which you are entitled or which you may elect to take advantage of. For additional information, please visit the website links below, or contact your designated . You may also link to valuable Benefits information at OPM's New Federal Employee Enrollment 
page.
Insurance Coverage
Health Insurance
The Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offers a wide variety of health plans from which to choose, including some that offer Health Savings Accounts
Dental and Vision Insurance
The Federal Employees’ Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) provides supplemental dental and/or vision insurance coverage. You have a choice of coverage for yourself, yourself plus one, or yourself and all your family members. Although there is no Federal Government contribution towards the premium, the cost is competitive with commercial rates and on a pre-tax basis.
Life Insurance
Unless you waive coverage, you will be automatically enrolled in basic coverage under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program. The basic benefit amount is approximately $2,000 more than your base salary. The Federal Government pays one-third of the cost for basic coverage. Optional insurance is also available to increase your benefit, as well as to provide coverage for your family. You pay the entire premium for any optional coverage you elect.
Long-Term Care Insurance
The Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance Program offers care that you need if you can no longer perform everyday tasks by yourself due to a chronic illness or disability. LTC also includes the supervision you might need due to a severe cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer’s disease). Your spouse, parents, and parents-in-law are also eligible to apply. Although there is no Federal Government contribution towards the premium, the cost is competitive.
Flexible Spending Account
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-favored program that allows you to set aside pre-tax money from your salary to pay for a variety of eligible expenses. There are three types of FSAs:
Health Care FSA (HCFSA)
Allows pre-tax reimbursement of eligible medical costs not covered or reimbursed by insurance, such as co-payments.
Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA)
Is used in place of HCFSA if you are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account. LEX HCFSA allows you to submit eligible dental and vision expenses only.
Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)
Allows participants to be reimbursed on a pre-tax basis for child care or adult dependent care expenses that are necessary to allow you or your spouse to work, look for work, or attend school full-time. Eligible family members include a child, up to age 13; and/or a person of any age whom you claim as a dependent on your Federal income tax return and who is mentally or physically incapable of self-care.
If you are eligible, you may choose to participate in either of the health care accounts and/or the dependent care account. Each year an FSA open season coincides with the Federal Benefits Open Season that begins in mid-November through early December.
Retirement
If this is your first appointment in the Federal Government, you will be covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) that combines benefits from three distinct sources. The basic plan and Social Security both provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits. Both systems rely on employee and government contributions.
The third component of FERS is the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). TSP is a retirement savings and investment plan. You can voluntarily contribute to a TSP account and qualify for automatic and matching agency contributions. The TSP is a critical component of building an adequate retirement income.
Workers’ Compensation
If you are injured on the job, you may be eligible for continuation of pay, payment of medical expenses and/or payment for lost wages based on a Department of Labor determination.
Leave and Holidays
Annual Leave
Full-time employees earn:
- Four (4) hours each pay period if service is less than 3 years = 13 days a year
- Six (6) hours each pay period if service is between 3 and 15 years = 20 days a year
- Eight (8) hours each pay period for more than 15 years of service = 26 days a year
- Employees hired into the Senior Executive Service will earn eight (8) hours each pay period = 26 days a year
Each calendar year you may accumulate annual leave. However, excess of 240 hours at the end of the leave year will be lost.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn four (4) hours each pay period (13 days each year) with no maximum limit.
Part-time employees accrue annual and sick leave hours on a pro-rated basis, that is, in an amount based on the relationship of their tour of duty as it relates to a full-time tour of duty.
Holidays
The Federal Government provides 10 paid holidays per year:
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King, Jr's, Birthday (Third Monday in January)
- President's Day (Third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (First Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
